water-resistant

American

[waw-ter-ri-zis-tuhnt, wot-er-] / ˈwɔ tər rɪˌzɪs tənt, ˈwɒt ər- /

adjective

resisting though not entirely preventing the penetration of water.

water-resistant British

adjective

(esp of fabrics) designed to resist but not entirely prevent the penetration of water

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of water-resistant

First recorded in 1920–25

Compare meaning

How does water-resistant compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

water-repellent vs. water-resistant

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

water-resistant

Early in the process, Quezon, a historian and grandson of a former Philippine president, learned to his dismay that the local hardwood and water-resistant species used to build the galleons had long been wiped out.

From Barron's ● Apr. 28, 2026

I have one of those sports fabric shirts for breathability, and I put on a two-layer coat, so it has the thermal fleece on the inside and a water-resistant outer layer.

From Slate ● Feb. 24, 2026

It is a company making safety-compliant workboots and water-resistant cargo pants.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 2, 2026

Beavers were hunted to extinction in Britain 400 years ago for their meat, furry water-resistant pelts and a substance they secrete called castoreum - used in food, medicine and perfume.

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2025

This action is possibly due to the filling of the voids in the oil, thus making a compact and water-resistant film.

From Paint Technology and Tests by Gardner, Henry A.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023